LAHORE: Police booked Pakistan Awami Tehreek chairman Dr Tahirul Qadri in a case for allegedly inciting people to rise against the government, provoking his followers to resort to violence and inciting them to confront police through his fiery speeches.

Police began a crackdown on PAT leaders and activists in some parts of Punjab in the run-up to the Youm-i-Shuhada slated for Aug 10, arresting a few of them.

Punjab police have been given an amount of Rs70 million by the provincial government to counter the PAT show and the Lahore police hired about 380 containers allegedly by force from different companies to block entry-exit points and some inner areas of the city.

There have been some reports of impounding of motorcycles by Lahore police from across the city as officials of Punjab police and traffic wardens were seen stopping young motorcyclists on different roads. However, city police authorities denied issuing any such order.

The police inserted a clause of the Anti-Terrorism Act in the case registered against Dr Qadri on behalf of Muhammad Khursheed of Mohni Road, Lower Mall. Other sections included 121 (waging or attempting to wage war or abetting waging of war against Pakistan) and 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation) of the Pakistan Penal Code.

Also Read: FBR sends Rs350m income tax notice to Tahirul Qadri

Women activists of the Awami Tehreek, supported by women from PML-Q, staged a protest against police action outside the Lahore Press Club and raised anti-government slogans.

Sources privy to the case told Dawn that police authorities sought advice from the legal branch to lodge a case based on the application moved by the applicant at the Data Darbar police on Tuesday last.

They said the case was finally registered against Mr Qadri on Wednesday and the First Information Report (FIR) was temporarily sealed by the police till the constitution of Joint Investigation Team which was expected to be constituted in a day or two.

Meanwhile, police crackdown against PAT leaders and activists was reported in different parts of the province.

PAT’s central Deputy Secretary Information Mushtaq Ahmad told Dawn that PAT tehsil president Tariq Rahim and Saeed Mughal from Fazilpur (Rajanpur district), who is also president of Tehrik Minhajul Quran, had been picked by police from their residences and were shifted to unknown locations.

He claimed police raided the house of Khanewal PAT president Rao Yasir, trespassed and tortured a woman family member, adding policemen also raided the Burewala outhouse of PAT provincial secretary general and ex-PPP MPA Fayyaz Warriach.

Mr Ahmad said such police actions have also been reported in Muzaffargarh, Sialkot, Gojra and other districts of the province.

According to a police source, the crackdown had been initiated on the ‘orders’ of the PML-N led Punjab government who initially ordered the Special Branch to finalise lists of PAT leaders and activists for their detention under 3-Maintennace of Public Order.

The source said the lists had already been dispatched to all district police for action and police had strictly been directed to check movements of PAT activists on roads and make best efforts to stop them from reaching the provincial capital.

He said PAT leaders and activists from Lahore district would be detained at the last stage shortly before August 10, the day on which PAT leadership is set to observe Youm-e-Shuhda in connection with the Model Town mayhem.

Our Staff Reporter in Rawalpindi adds: Late in the night, police launched a crackdown against PAT workers in Rawalpindi division and arrested at least 10 of them under the Maintenance of Public Order law.

According to sources, police had been provided lists of PAT workers to be arrested. Raids were carried out in Attock, Fateh Jang, Gujar Khan, Jhelum,Chakwal,Murree and Rawalpindi. A police official said that most of the workers whose names were on the lists had gone into hiding. He said the arrests would continue.

Meanwhile, special branch field staff were deployed at bus stands, railway stations and entry point of the city to check the movement of activists workers, in addition to surveillance of transporters and catering firms. The special branch was sending reports regarding PAT workers’ activities to the provincial government after every four hours.

Published in Dawn, August 7th, 2014